Psalms 73:4

4 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.

Psalms 73:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death
Nothing that binds and straitens them, afflicts and distresses them; they have no pain of mind nor of body, but die at once, suddenly, in a moment, wholly at ease and quiet, without any bitterness of soul; see ( Job 21:13 Job 21:23 Job 21:25 ) , or "there are no bands until their death" F6; they have no straits nor difficulties all their life long, no distempers nor diseases which may be called "bonds", ( Luke 13:12 Luke 13:13 Luke 13:16 ) , till they come to die: the Vulgate Latin version is, "there is no respect to their death"; they take no notice of it, they have no care or concern about it; or, as the Targum,

``they are not terrified nor troubled because of the day of their death;''

they put it away far from them, and think nothing about it: but their strength is firm; they are hale and robust, healthful and sound, to the day of their death; their strength is not weakened in the way by diseases and distempers. Some take the word rendered "strength" to signify a porch or palace, and translate it, they are strong as a palace, or in a palace, or their palace is strong F7 their houses are well built, and continue long.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mtwml) "usque ad mortem eorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F7 (Mlwa) "palatium vel sicut palatium"; so some in Piscator; "porticus", Schmidt; so R. Jonah, Arama, and Jerom.

Psalms 73:4 In-Context

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.